Russian opposition to stage 'March of the Millions'

Moscow, March 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian opposition has decided to stage -- March of the millions -- protest May 6 before the inauguration of president-elect Vladimir Putin.

Members of the opposition, headed by activists Sergei Udaltsov and Boris Nemtsov, voted at Saturday's rally in Moscow downtown for the protest.

Supporters of Udaltsov and entrepreneur Alexei Kozlov as well as protesters against a pro-Kremlin documentary alleging Russians were paid to attend recent vote fraud rallies, gathered on central Pushkinskaya Square.

The gathering aimed to hold the rally in the format of the meeting with State Duma deputy Gennady Gudkov. Such a format does not require approval of the city government but forbids any posters and slogans. The protest was attended by several dozens of people and at least two, who came with posters, were detained.

Udaltsov said that the exact time and place of the "march" would be determined later.

Udaltsov, a leader of the Left Front opposition movement, was arrested in central Moscow last Thursday over his attempt to organise an unsanctioned demonstration following a post-election opposition rally.

He was initially sentenced to 10 days in jail; however, Friday, a Moscow court overturned the ruling, replacing it with a $30 fine.

Kozlov, whose case was championed by protesters at recent opposition rallies, was sentenced to five years in prison for fraud Thursday. The 38-year-old entrepreneur is accused of stealing shares of a leather production company through a fraudulent scheme in 2006.